Ministers must tackle educational divide - Brooke

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 14th Aug 2008

Commenting on today's A-Level results, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesperson, Annette Brooke said:

"These young people have clearly worked hard and we should celebrate their success.

"But with one in four candidates now achieving an A Grade, we need to be sure that the most talented students are being properly stretched.

"The new regulator must now act by reviewing these top grades so that we can be fully confident that the apparent improvements are real.

"There is now a clear divide at the heart of our education system. The rate of improvement in the A Grade pass rate in the south is nearly three times greater than in the north.

"Ministers must work to find the reasons for this inequality and ensure that any improvements in our schools and colleges benefit all students."